Abstract
The main distresses of asphalt pavements in seasonal frozen regions are due to the effects of water action, freeze-thaw cycles, traffic, and so on. Fibers are usually used to reinforce asphalt mixtures, in order to improve its mechanical properties. Basalt fiber is an eco-friendly mineral fiber with high mechanical performance, low water absorption, and an appropriate temperature range. This paper aims to address the freeze-thaw damage characteristics of asphalt mixtures (AC-13) reinforced with eco-friendly basalt fiber, with a length of 6 mm. Based on the Marshall design method and ordinary pavement performances, including rutting resistance, anti-cracking, and moisture stability, the optimum asphalt and basalt fiber contents were determined. Test results indicated that the pavement performances of asphalt mixture exhibited a trend of first increasing and then deceasing, with the basalt fiber content. Subsequently, asphalt mixtures with a basalt fiber content of 0.4% were prepared for further freeze-thaw tests. Through the comparative analysis of air voids, splitting strength, and indirect tensile stiffness modulus, it could be found that the performances of asphalt mixtures gradually declined with freeze-thaw cycles and basalt fiber had positive effects on the freeze-thaw resistance. This paper can be used as a reference for further investigation on the freeze-thaw damage model of asphalt mixtures with basalt fiber.
Highlights
The asphalt pavement has been widely used in flexible pavement constructions, with a rapid growing trend [1,2]
Asphalt mixtures reinforced with basalt fiber were prepared on the basis of the Marshall design method and specimens were tested, in order to obtain the Marshall design parameters, i.e., bulk density, air voids (VA), voids in mineral aggregates (VMA), voids filled with asphalt (VFA), Marshall stability (MS), as well as the flow value (FV)
It could be seen that the optimum asphalt content (OAC) of different asphalt mixtures gradually increased with the basalt fiber content. This trend agrees with the results obtained in previous research, which may be attributed to the fact that basalt fiber has a larger specific surface area and the fibers can absorb the light components in bitumen [9,36]
Summary
The asphalt pavement has been widely used in flexible pavement constructions, with a rapid growing trend [1,2]. Asphalt mixture is generally considered to be a complex porous material that includes bitumen, aggregates, fillers, as well as voids [3,4]. Researchers have been trying to modify asphalt mixtures and explore its freeze-thaw damage. Fibers additives, such as cellulose fiber, polyester fiber, mineral fiber, etc., have been added into bitumen and proved to be an effective reinforcement material for asphalt mixtures [6,7,8,9]. Wang et al [11,12] added basalt fiber into asphalt materials and evaluated their fatigue resistance by using direct tension, as well as fatigue tests. Gu et al [13] compared and discussed
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